[0001] The present invention relates in general to internal combustion engines used for
traction on land. At their current state of technological development, the overall
performance of these engines is still unsatisfactory and researchers therefore concentrate
their efforts on the high percentages of energy which are lost during the thermodynamic
process and which represent about 60% of the total energy balance, of which about
35% is lost in the exhaust and about 25% in the cooling of the engine.
[0002] A turbosupercharger may be associated with such an engine, in known manner, in order
to improve its overall performance by making use of the energy of the exhaust gases
to compress the intake gases.
[0003] In this case the poor efficiency of the turbosupercharger is more than acceptable
since it makes use of recovered energy which would otherwise be lost.
[0004] Under certain operating conditions, typically when the engine is running slowly,
however, the energy supplied by the exhaust gases is insufficient to drive the turbosupercharger
at fairly high rates of rotation in order to develop a satisfactory supply pressure.
In this situation, it would be useful to supply the turbosupercharger with power taken
from the shaft of the internal combustion engine in order to increase its rate of
rotation, thus increasing the pressure of the supply to the engine and hence the power
developed.
[0005] When the engine is running at high speeds, however, it would be convenient to recover
the power which the turbine can deliver in excess of the needs of the supercharger
and which at the moment is lost since it cannot be used.
[0006] In order to achieve the best possible performance, it would therefore be advantageous
to have a mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine and the turbosupercharger
in order to develop one portion of the thermodynamic cycle in the cylinders of the
internal combustion engine and another portion of the cycle in the turbosupercharger.
[0007] The combination of the two machines would create a compound engine, known as a "turbocompound"
engine, in which the turbosupercharger would no longer merely be a member for supercharging
the internal combustion engine, but could also send back to the shaft of the internal
combustion engine that portion of the energy of the exhaust gases which exceeds the
energy requirements of the compressor.
[0008] Moreover, when the engine is running slowly, the energy supplied by the exhaust gases
is insufficient for the turbosupercharger to operate very efficiently and power could
therefore be taken from the shaft of the internal combustion engine to assist the
driving of the turbosupercharger.
[0009] It is not possible to achieve both the aforesaid advantageous effects and simultaneously
to improve the efficiency of the engine at both high and low running speeds with the
use of fixed mechanical connections between the engine and the turbosupercharger.
[0010] The best solution to this problem consists of the use of a variable-ratio transmission
so that the supercharger can operate at the desired speed regardless of the engine
speed and the energy available from the exhaust gases.
[0011] The present invention relates specifically to a compound engine including a diesel
engine and a turbosupercharger the shaft of which is coupled mechanically to the shaft
of the engine by a variable-ratio transmission unit, as disclosed in GB-A-886 659
[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a compound diesel engine having
a mechanical transmission which interconnects the turbosupercharger and the engine,
which has a widely variable, high transmission ratio and which can be piloted electromechanically,
the engine being distinguished by very efficient operation under all conditions.
[0013] This object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the transmission unit includes
a first epicyclic reduction unit including a first ring gear coupled externally for
rotation with the shaft of the engine, a first sun gear coaxial with the first ring
gear, a first planet-carrier carrying first planets meshed with the internal teeth
of the first ring gear and with the first sun gear, and a second epicyclic reduction
unit arranged in series with the first and including a second ring gear coupled externally
for rotation with the shaft of the turbosupercharger, a second sun gear coaxial with
the second ring gear, a second planet-carrier rotated by the first ring gear and carrying
second planets meshed with the internal teeth of the second ring gear and with the
second sun gear, and in which the first and second sun gears are connected for rotation
together,
means for controlling the speed of rotation of the second sun gear,
sensor means for sensing operating conditions of the engine, and
an electronic control unit which is supplied by the sensor means and is arranged
to pilot the control means in dependence on the operating conditions of the engine.
[0014] By virtue of these characteristics, the compound engine according to the invention
achieves high performance at both low and high running speeds, reduces the smoke emitted
during acceleration, and also increases the passive energy generated when it is used
for engine braking so that small supercharged engines can be installed even in urban
buses and touring coaches with advantages in terms of bulk, weight and consumption.
[0015] The use of a mechanical transmission constituted by several gears enables even very
high torques to be transmitted.
[0016] The present engine can also, to advantage, be produced with the use of components
already normally available for the production of conventional engines and is thus
distinguished by fairly low production costs.
[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear
from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended drawings,
provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned, schematic, perspective view of the variable-ratio
transmission unit which forms part of the engine according to the present invention,
Figure 2 is a partially-sectioned side elevational view of the transmission unit of
Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a diagram of the compound engine according to the invention showing sensors
associated therewith and an electronic control unit,
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are simplified diagrams showing schematically the operation
of the variable-ratio transmission unit in different operating conditions, and
Figure 8 is a diagram relating the speeds of rotation of members of the variable-ratio
transmission unit.
[0018] With reference first of all to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the compound engine according
to the invention includes a diesel engine 1 and a turbosupercharger 2, between which
is a variable-ratio transmission unit 3.
[0019] The engine 1 includes, in known manner, a crankshaft 4 which rotates an output gear
5, disposed, for example, near the flywheel 4a.
[0020] The gear 5 meshes with an intermediate gear 6 meshing with a ring gear 7 which has
both internal and external teeth 7a and 7b and forms part of a first epicyclic reduction
unit 8 of the transmission unit 3. Planets 9 which rotate within the ring gear 7 and
mesh with the teeth 7a are supported rotatably on respective pins 9a which, together
with a cylindrical element 11 coaxial with the ring gear 7, constitute a common planet-carrier
10.
[0021] A sun gear 12 coaxial with the ring gear 7 and meshing with the planets 9 is carried
by a shaft 13 and fixed for rotation therewith.
[0022] A braking unit 14 associated with the shaft 13 can exert a braking action, by means
of a slidable piston 14b which is operated electropneumatically against the action
of opposing helical springs 14c (Figure 2), on a disc 14a fixed rigidly to the shaft
13.
[0023] Two endless trapezoidal belts 16 pass around a double pulley 15 keyed to the shaft
13 and are associated with respective pulleys 16a keyed to respective shafts of two
alternators 17, the functions of which will be explained further below.
[0024] There is a second braking unit 18 for braking a disc 18a formed integrally with the
cylindrical element 11 by the operation of an electropneumatically driven piston 18b
against the action of an opposing helical spring 18c.
[0025] Both the brakes 14 and 18 are of the "on-off" type.
[0026] A second sun gear 19 keyed to the shaft 13 on the opposite side of the sun gear 12
from the pulley 15 forms part of a second epicyclic reduction unit 20 which acts as
a divider and is arranged in series with the first epicyclic reduction unit 8. The
sun gear 19 meshes with planets 21 rotatable on pins 21a which, together with the
ring gear 7, constitute the planet-carrier of the dividing reduction unit 20. The
planets 21 are meshed with the internal teeth 22a of a ring gear 22 coaxial with the
sun gear 19, the external teeth 22b of which are coupled for rotation with a gear
23. The gear 23 is fixed for rotation with a gear 24 by means of a connecting shaft
23a and the gear 24 is connected to an epicyclic reduction unit 25 of the turbosupercharger
2. The reduction unit 25 includes a ring gear 26 with two sets of teeth of which the
external set 26b is meshed with the gear 24, and planets 27 which mesh with the internal
teeth 26a of the ring gear 26 and with a sun gear 28 interposed between them. The
sun gear 28 is carried by a shaft 29 which is coaxial with the ring gear and, in known
manner, has a compressor rotor 30 keyed to one of its ends and a turbine wheel 31,
which is rotated by the exhaust gases from the engine 1, keyed to its other end. The
bodies of the compressor and of the turbine are indicated 30a and 31a (Figure 2).
[0027] Figure 3 shows schematically sensor members which transmit signals indicative of
the operating conditions of the engine to an electronic control unit 33 which, in
response, pilots the operation of the brakes 14 and 18 and the speeds of rotation
of the alternators 17 so as to vary the transmission ratio of the unit 3 between the
turbosupercharger 2 and the engine 1. The electronic control unit 33 is activated
by the operation of the engine starter 34.
[0028] The electronic control unit 33 receives signals emitted by the following sensors:
a fuel-supply sensor 36 associated with the injection pump 35 of the engine, a sensor
37 for detecting the operation of the starter motor, a sensor 38 for sensing the speed
of rotation of the shaft 13 which is common to the epicyclic reduction units 8 and
20, a pressure sensor 39 associated with an accumulator 40 for compressed air for
operating the brakes 14 and 18, a sensor 41 associated with the ring gear 7 of the
epicyclic reduction unit 8 for sensing the speed of rotation of the internal combustion
engine 1, a sensor 42 associated with the gear 23, for sensing the speed of rotation
of the turbosupercharger 2, and an engine-braking sensor 46.
[0029] The electronic control unit 33 organises and processes the input signals received
from the sensors and, in response, supplies pulses for selectively operating solenoid
valves 43 and 44 which control the operation of the brakes 14 and 18 respectively
by connecting them to the compressed-fluid accumulator 40.
[0030] The electronic control unit 33 also determines the speed at which alternators 17
rotate to drive the shaft 13.
[0031] A resistor 45, which acts as a dissipator, is connected to the alternators 17.
[0032] In operation, according to the operating conditions of the engine and the driver's
commands expressed by the accelerator pedal, a predetermined speed of rotation is
set for the shaft 13 by the modulation of the desired braking torque to prevent its
natural tendency to accelerate, either by the selective operation of the brakes 14
or 18 or by the variation of the speed of rotation of the alternators 17. The entire
system enables the amount of power transferred between the engine and the turbosupercharger
to be controlled by varying the rate of rotation of the shaft 13 and hence of the
sun gears 12 and 19.
[0033] When the engine is running slowly or accelerating, a particular operating condition
arises which, in conventional diesel engines, is considered critical both because
of the difficulty with which fast rates of rotation can be achieved quickly and because
of the quantity of fumes emitted in the exhaust. In this condition, which is known
as the "no lag" condition, the sensors 42 and 36 in the engine of the present invention
indicate a slow rate of rotation of the turbosupercharger and a rapid increase in
the fuel supply, respectively. In these circumstances, the electronic control unit
33 sets the system for maximum transmission between the engine 1 and the turbosupercharger
2 so that the turbosupercharger can be driven by the engine. In order to achieve the
maximum transmission ratio between the engine 1 and the turbosupercharger 2, the shaft
13 is made to contrarotate relative to the ring gear 22 and the planet-carrier 21
constituted by the ring gear 7. In order to achieve this operating condition, the
brake 18 is operated, thus locking the planet-carrier of the epicyclic reduction unit
8 (Figure 7) and the rate of rotation of the shaft 13 may also be modulated by adjusting
the speed of rotation of the alternators 17. In some circumstances it may be unnecessary
to make the shaft 13 contrarotate relative to the ring gear 22 and, in applications
in which is important to reduce the "lag" without cancelling it out, it may suffice
to lock the shaft 13 by operating the brake 14 (Figure 6) and hence to stop the sun
gear 19. For this purpose, if a lower level of performance with a simpler structure
is acceptable, the brake 18 may be omitted.
[0034] Whether or not there is a brake 18, as long as the engine continues to accelerate,
the speed of the turbosupercharger 2 will automatically be adjusted to suit the speed
of rotation of the engine 1. When the turbosupercharger 2 needs less power to be transferred
from the engine 1, the transmission ratio of the unit 3 is adjusted by altering the
speed of rotation of the shaft 13 by means of the alternators 17 (Figure 5) until
the optimum operating conditions of the turbosupercharger 2 are achieved and it can
then operate autonomously.
[0035] "Turbocompound" operating conditions occur when the sensors 36 and 42 simultaneously
detect a high fuel supply and a fast speed of rotation of the turbosupercharger 2.
In this fast-running condition of the engine, the exhaust gases drive the turbosupercharger
2 at very fast rates of rotation so that the compression of the gases at the intake
of the engine is excessive and cannot fully be used. In this event, the turbosupercharger
2 no longer only constitutes a supercharger for the engine 1 but can also transfer
to the shaft 4 of the engine 1 that portion of the energy from the exhaust gases which
exceeds the requirements of the compressor. In these circumstances some of the excess
power produced by the turbosupercharger 2 can be taken off and sent back to the alternators
for storage in the batteries. This operating condition is illustrated in Figure 4.
[0036] If the engine is operating in a partially loaded condition which is characterised
by a fast rate of rotation of the engine but a low fuel supply detected by the sensor
36, the system keeps the speed of the shaft 13 at values high enough to prevent the
turbosupercharger 2 from being driven by the engine at rates of rotation which would
involve unnecessary supercharging and a consequent waste of energy.
[0037] The compound engine according to the invention also increases the "engine-braking
effect", which is particularly useful in internal combustion engines with small capacities,
enabling such units to be supercharged even without the supply of fuel. This function
is identified by the specific signal of the engine-braking sensor 46. In these circumstances,
the turbosupercharger 2 is driven by the engine 1 which acts as a positive-displacement
compressor, the passive work of which produces the engine-braking effect.
[0038] When the engine is started, the starter-motor sensor 37 and the fuel-supply sensor
36 indicate to the electronic control unit 33 the need to operate the brake 14 so
as to lock the shaft 13 and enable the turbosupercharger 2 to be driven by the engine
1.
[0039] Figure 8 is a diagram relating the speed of rotation of the sun gear 19 (or of the
shaft 13) to the speed of the ring gear 7 which is coupled for rotation with the engine
1 and to the speed of the ring gear 22 which is coupled for rotation with the turbosupercharger
2. The speeds are expressed as revolutions per minute (r.p.m.). The relationships
linking these speeds of rotation can be expressed by straight-line equations; in fact,
varying the relationship between these speeds is equivalent to varying the position
of a straight line in a plane. The continuous straight lines A and C relate to operating
conditions in which there is a 75% load on the engine 1 and the broken straight lines
B and D correspond to the operation of the engine under a 100% load. The straight
line A, for example, illustrates the operation of the variable-ratio transmission
3 when the sun gear 19 is stationary (due to the operation of the brake 14) which
corresponds to a speed of rotation of the ring gear 7 of about 2,500 revolutions per
minute and a speed of rotation of the ring gear 22 of slightly over 3,000 revolutions
per minute. In the case of the straight line C, the sun gear 19 is contrarotating
relative to the ring gear 22 at a negative velocity of about 2,200 revolutions per
minute, whilst the ring 7 rotates in the opposite sense at about 700 revolutions per
minute and the ring gear 22 at a speed of about 2,800 revolutions per minute.
[0040] The alternators 17 could be replaced by an electrical machine of a different type
arranged to operate as a motor, which would enable one or both the brakes 14 and 18
to be omitted.
1. A compound engine including a diesel engine and a turbosupercharger (2), the shaft
(29) of which is coupled mechanically to the shaft (4) of the engine (1) by means
of a variable-ratio transmission unit (3),
characterised in that:
the transmission unit (3) includes a first epicyclic reduction unit (8) including
a first ring gear (7) coupled externally for rotation with the shaft (4) of the engine
(1), a first sun gear (12) coaxial with the first ring gear (7), a first planet-carrier
(10) carrying first planets (9) meshed with the internal teeth of the first ring gear
(7) and with the first sun gear (12), and a second epicyclic reduction unit (20) arranged
in series with the first (8) and including a second ring gear (22) coupled externally
for rotation with the shaft (29) of the turbosupercharger (2), a second sun gear (19)
coaxial with the second ring gear (22), a second planet-carrier (7, 21a) rotated by
the first ring gear (7) and carrying second planets (21) meshed with the internal
teeth of the second ring gear (22) and with the second sun gear (19), and in which
the first and second sun gears (12, 19) are connected for rotation together,
means (14, 17, 18) for controlling the speed of rotation of the second sun gear (19),
sensor means (36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 46) for sensing operating conditions of the engine,
and
an electronic control unit (33) which is supplied by the sensor means (36, 37, 38,
41, 42, 46) and is arranged to pilot the control means (14, 17, 18) in dependence
on the operating conditions of the engine.
2. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the control means (14, 17, 18)
regulate the speed of rotation of the first sun gear (12) in a first sense of rotation
between a maximum velocity corresponding to a minimum transmission ratio between the
engine (1) and the turbosupercharger (2) and a speed of zero which corresponds to
an intermediate transmission ratio between the engine (1) and the turbosupercharger
(2), and in a second sense of rotation opposite the first, which corresponds to a
maximum transmission ratio between the engine (1) and the turbosupercharger (2).
3. An engine according to Claim 1, characterised in that the first and second sun gears
(12, 19) are carried by a common shaft (13) and the second planet-carrier (7, 21a)
is carried by the first ring gear (7).
4. An engine according to Claim 3, characterised in that the control means include at
least one continuously-adjustable electrical machine (17) operatively associated with
the common shaft (13).
5. An engine according to Claim 4, characterised in that the electrical machine comprises
an alternator (17).
6. An engine according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that the control means
also include an electropneumatic brake (14) of the "on-off" type, operatively associated
with the common shaft (13).
7. An engine according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the control
means also include an electropneumatic brake (18) of the "on-off" type, operatively
associated with the first planet-carrier (10).
8. An engine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the
sensor means include a fuel-supply sensor (36), a sensor (37) for detecting the operation
of the starter motor, a sensor (38) for sensing the speed of rotation of the second
sun gear (19), a pressure sensor (39) associated with a compressed-air accumulator
(40), a sensor (41) for sensing the speed of rotation of the drive shaft (4) of the
engine (1), a sensor (42) for sensing the speed of rotation of the turbosupercharger
unit (2), and an engine-braking sensor (46).
9. An engine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes
a third epicyclic reduction unit (25) between the second ring gear (22) and the shaft
(29) of the turbosupercharger unit (2).
1. Verbundmotor mit
- einem Dieselmotor und einem Turbolader (2), dessen Welle (29) mit der Kurbelwelle
(4) des Motors (1) mittels einer Getriebeeinheit (3) mit variabler Übersetzung mechanisch
verbunden ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Getriebeeinheit (3) umfaßt
- eine erste epizyklische Untersetzungseinheit (8) mit einem ersten Hohlrad (7), das
an seiner Außenseite drehbar mit der Kurbelwelle (4) des Motors (1) verbunden ist,
einem ersten Sonnenrad (12), das koaxial zu dem ersten Hohlrad (7) angeordnet ist,
einem ersten Planetenträger (10), der erste Planetenräder (9) trägt, die mit den Innenzähnen
des ersten Hohlrads (7) und mit dem ersten Sonnenrad (12) in Eingriff sind, und
- eine in Reihe mit der ersten epizyklischen Untersetzungseinheit (8) angeordnete
zweite epizyklische Untersetzungseinheit (20) mit einem zweiten Hohlrad (22), das
an seiner Außenseite drehbar mit der Welle (29) des Turboladers (2) verbunden ist,
einem zweiten Sonnenrad (19), das koaxial zu dem zweiten Hohlrad (22) angeordnet ist,
einem zweiten Planetenträger (7, 21a), der von dem ersten Hohlrad (7) gedreht wird
und zweite Planetenräder (21) trägt, die mit den Innenzähnen des zweiten Hohlrads
(22) und mit dem zweiten Sonnenrad (19) in Eingriff sind, wobei die beiden Sonnenräder
(12, 19) so miteinander verbunden sind, daß sie sich gemeinsam drehen,
mit
- Mitteln (14, 17, 18) zur Regelung der Drehzahl des zweiten Sonnenrades (19),
- Sensor-Mitteln (36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 46) zur Erfassung der Betriebsbedingungen des
Motors, sowie
- einer elektronischen Steuerung (33), die mit den Sensor-Mitteln (36, 37, 38, 41,
42, 46) verbunden und so ausgebildet ist, daß sie die Regelmittel (14, 17, 18) in
Abhängigkeit von den Betriebsbedingungen des Motors steuert.
2. Motor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Regelmittel (14, 17, 18) die
Drehzahl des ersten Sonnenrads (12) in einem ersten Drehsinn zwischen einer einem
minimalen Übersetzungsverhältnis zwischen Motor (1) und Turbolader (2) entsprechenden
Maximaldrehzahl und einem einem mittleren Übersetzungsverhältnis zwischen Motor (1)
und Turbolader (2) entsprechenden Stillstand (0 min⁻¹), sowie in einem zweiten, dem
ersten entgegengesetzten, Drehsinn der einem maximalen Übersetzungsverhältnis zwischen
Motor (1) und Turbolader (2) entspricht, regeln.
3. Motor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Sonnenräder (12, 19)
auf einer gemeinsamen Welle (13) sitzen und daß der zweite Planetenträger (7, 21a)
vom ersten Hohlrad (7) getragen wird.
4. Motor nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Regelmittel mindestens eine
stufenlos einstellbare elektrische Kraftmaschine (17) umfassen, die mit der gemeinsamen
Welle (13) treibend verbunden ist.
5. Motor nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß als elektrische Kraftmaschine ein
Wechselstromgenerator (17) verwendet wird.
6. Motor nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Regelmittel weiterhin
eine elektropneumatische Bremse (14) umfassen, die als "Sperrbremse" arbeitet und
mit der gemeinsamen Welle (13) wirkend verbunden ist.
7. Motor nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Regelmittel
weiterhin eine elektropneumatische Bremse (18) umfassen, die als "Sperrbremse" arbeitet
und mit dem ersten Planetenträger (10) wirkend verbunden ist.
8. Motor nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Sensor-Mittel
einen Kraftstoffzufuhr-Sensor (36), einen Sensor (37) zur Erfassung des Betriebs des
Anlassers, einen Sensor (38) zur Erfassung der Drehzahl des zweiten Sonnenrads (19),
einen mit einem Druckluftspeicher (40) verbundener Drucksensor (39), einen Sensor
(41) zur Erfassung der Drehzahl der Kurbelwelle (4) des Verbrennungsmotors (1), einen
Sensor (42) zur Erfassung der Drehzahl der Turbolader-Einheit (2) sowie einen Motorbrems-Sensor
(46) umfassen.
9. Motor nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß er eine
dritte epizyklische Untersetzungseinheit (25) umfaßt, die zwischen dem zweiten Hohlrad
(22) und der Welle (29) der Turbolader-Einheit (2) angeordnet ist.
1. Moteur compound comprenant un moteur diesel et un turbosurcompresseur (2), dont l'arbre
(29) est couplé mécaniquement à l'arbre (4) du moteur (1) au moyen d'une unité de
transmission (3) à rapport variable,
caractérisé en ce que
l'unité de transmission (3) comprend une première unité (8) planétaire de réduction
comportant une première couronne dentée (7) couplée extérieurement de manière à tourner
avec l'arbre (4) du moteur (1), un premier engrenage principal (12) coaxial à la première
couronne dentée (7), un premier porte-satellites (10) portant des premiers satellites
(9) en prise avec les dents internes de la première couronne dentée (7) et avec le
premier engrenage principal (12) et une deuxième unité (20) planétaire de réduction
agencée en série avec la première (8) et comprenant une deuxième couronne dentée (22)
couplée extérieurement de manière à tourner avec l'arbre (29) du turbosurcompresseur
(2), un deuxième engrenage principal (19) coaxial à la deuxième couronne denté (22),
un deuxième porte-satellites (7, 21a) mis en rotation par la première couronne dentée
(7) et portant des deuxièmes satellites (21) en prise avec les dents internes de la
deuxième couronne dentée (22) et avec le deuxième engrenage principal (19), et dans
laquelle les premier et deuxième engrenages principaux (12, 19) sont reliés de manière
à tourner ensemble,
des moyens (14, 17, 18) pour commander la vitesse de rotation du deuxième engrenage
principal (19),
des moyens de détection (36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 46) pour détecter les conditions de
fonctionnement du moteur, et
une unité (33) électronique de commande qui est alimentée par les moyens de détection
(36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 46) et est conçue pour agir sur les moyens de commande (14, 17,
18) en fonction des conditions de fonctionnement du moteur.
2. Moteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commande (14,
17, 18) règlent la vitesse de rotation du premier engrenage principal (12) dans un
premier sens de rotation, entre une vitesse maximum correspondant à un rapport de
transmission minimum entre le moteur (1) et le turbosurcompresseur (2) et une vitesse
égale à zéro qui correspond à un rapport de transmission intermédiaire entre le moteur
(1) et le turbosurcompresseur (2), et dans un deuxième sens de rotation opposé au
premier, qui correspond à un rapport de transmission maximum entre le moteur (1) et
le turbosurcompresseur (2).
3. Moteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les premier et deuxième engrenages
principaux (12, 19) sont portés par un même arbre (13) et le deuxième porte-satellites
(7, 21a) est porté par la première couronne dentée (7).
4. Moteur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commande comprennent
au moins une machine électrique (17) sans gradations, associée en fonctionnement à
l'arbre commun (13).
5. Moteur selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la machine électrique comprend
un alternateur (17).
6. Moteur selon les revendications 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commande
comprennent également un frein (14) électropneumatique du type "on-off", associé en
fonctionnement à l'arbre commun (13).
7. Moteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, caractérisé en ce que les
moyens de commande comprennent également un frein (18) électropneumatique du type
"on-off", associé en fonctionnement au premier porte-satellites (10).
8. Moteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que
les moyens de détection comprennent une sonde (36) de l'alimentation de carburant,
un détecteur (37) destiné à détecter le fonctionnement du démarreur, un capteur (38)
destiné à capter la vitesse de rotation du deuxième engrenage principal (19), un capteur
de pression (39) associé à un accumulateur (40) à air comprimé, un capteur (41) destiné
à capter la vitesse de rotation de l'arbre de transmission (4) du moteur (1), un capteur
(42) destiné à capter la vitesse de rotation de l'unité turbosurcompresseur (2), et
un détecteur (46) de freinage moteur .
9. Moteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il
comprend une troisième unité (25) planétaire de réduction entre la deuxième couronne
dentée (22) et l'arbre (29) de l'unité turbosurcompresseur (2).